Two responses: 1. "Dressing the part" makes me think of the John Molloy books from the preppy 80s (or thereabouts). Some people still dress this way. No one does this in my casual part of the world. 2. Someone told people that I was a mystery shopper. This generated glares, whispers, rolled eyes, and other rude behaviors everywhere I went. Then, I began to tell people that I was a Mer-Chan-Di-Ser. Saying it slowly seemed to awaken awareness, and people stopped treating me as if I had plague or, worse, was a *in hushed tones* mystery shopper. Now, people don't think anything at all of me, as it used to be and always should be. I am just my goofy, wacky, sometimes serious old bear of a self.
Pronoun, schmonoun. I am a female human.